New ATB Under Construction for Reinauer

Construction of a new articulated tug and barge has begun for Reinauer Transportation Companies, Staten Island, N.Y. The 124-ft. oceangoing tug and mating 135,000 barrel capacity notched barge are scheduled to enter service along the U.S. eastern seaboard in early December 1999. Atlantic Marine Inc., Jacksonville, is building the tug, which was designed by Robert Hill of Ocean Tug & Barge Engineering, Bellingham, Mass. The vessel's mating 460 ft. double-hull barge was designed by and is being built at Alabama Shipyard, Mobile, Ala., a subsidiary of Atlantic Marine. Tug Nicole Leigh Reinauer will be powered by two Cat 3612s, each rated 4,211 bhp at 1,000 rpm. Two Lufkin 5:1 gears will drive 140-in. dia. Bird-Johnson Workhorse propellers, providing the vessel with approximately 172,000 lbs. of bollard pull. Design operational speed pushing the fully loaded barge is 11.5 knots. The new tug and barge will feature an Intercon coupler system providing a rigid, mechanically locked connection between the two hulls. This system retains the economic advantages of tug and barge operation, while providing performance more in line with a conventional ship. Speed, handling and ability to operate in higher sea states are all significantly improved compared to traditionally towed barges. Tug auxiliary power will be provided by four Cat 3304B gen sets. The self-contained barge will be equipped with four Cat 3406C engines driving Byron Jackson pumps, two Cat 3304B gen sets and a single Cat 3304B powering on-board hydraulics. The vessel is the first new-build eastern seaboard tug to feature Cat 3600 family engines for propulsion. "The way we have this propulsion system set up, we have a continuous operating range from 750-1,000 rpm, and can still pull more than 6,000 hp out of the engines at the lower speeds," said Chris Reinauer, manager of maintenance and repair. Vessel Specifications Tug Nicole Leigh Reinauer Length: 124 ft. Beam: 40 ft. Hull Depth: 22 ft. Design Draft: 20 ft. Design Top Speed: 11.5 knots with fully loaded mating barge Estimated Bollard Pull: 172,000 lbs. Thrust @ 11.5 knots: 150,000 lbs. Propulsion Engines: (2) Cat 3612, each rated 4,211 bhp @ 1,000 rpm Marine Gear: (2) Lufkin RHS 3200 with 5.036:1 reduction Propellers: (2) Bird-Johnson five-blade stainless steel Workhorse, 140 x 120 in. Auxiliary Engines: (4) Cat 3304B, each 99 ekW @ 1,800 rpm Barge RTC 135 Capacity: 135,000 bbls Length: 460 ft. Beam: 72 ft. Hull Depth: 41 ft. Design Draft: 29.5 ft. Auxiliary Engines: (4) Cat 3406C for pumps, each 462 bhp @ 1,800 rpm (2) Cat 3304B gen sets, each 99 ekW @ 1,800 rpm Cat 3304B for hydraulic drives, 156 bhp @ 1,800 rpm